CAVE CLIMATE COMPARISON ACTIVITY BETWEEN THE SURFACE AND THE CAVERN Created by Ray Bowers For the Virtual Center for the Environment (VCE) A part of the Institute of Natural Resources Analysis and Management (INRAM) Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 42
CAVE CLIMATE COMPARISON ACTIVITY BETWEEN THE SURFACE AND THE CAVERN TEACHER INFORMATION ABSTRACT: The students will compare the climate from the Carlsbad, NM airport to the climate within Carlsbad Cavern, NM by graphing climate data from the Western Regional Climate Center and Carlsbad National Park. The temperature and relative humidity hourly data will be graphed to see how these climate factors changed on June1, 2003. The average temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation from the surface will be compared to the temperature and relative humidity within Carlsbad Cavern each month from October 2002 through September 2003. GRADE LEVEL (S): 7--12 OBJECTIVES: Students will: Develop a graph format, and graph the data about the temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation at Carlsbad airport, and the temperature and relative humidity in Carlsbad Caverns Compare the climate at the airport to the climate in the cavern on an hourly basis for one day, and the monthly averages for one year. Hypothesize about the affect of cave climate on cave organisms. NATIONAL STANDARDS: Unifying Concepts and Processes Evidence, models, and explanation (5-12) Change, consistency, and measurement (5-12) Science as Inquiry Development of: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry (5-12) Understandings about scientific inquiry (5-12) Life Science Development of an understanding of: Matter, energy, and organization in living systems (9-12) Earth and Space Science Development of an understanding of: Structure of the earth system (5-8) Energy in the earth system (9-12) NEW MEXICO STANDARDS: Strand I: Scientific Thinking and Practice Standard I: Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically. Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 43
5-8 Benchmark I: Use scientific methods to develop questions, design and conduct experiments using appropriate technologies, analyze and evaluate results, make predictions, and communicate findings. 9-12 Benchmark I: Use accepted scientific methods to collect, analyze, and interpret data and observations and to design and conduct scientific investigations and communicate results. 5-8 Benchmark II: Understand the processes of scientific investigation and how scientific inquiry results in scientific knowledge. 9-12 Benchmark II: Understand that scientific processes produce scientific knowledge that is continually evaluated, validated, revised, or rejected. 5-8 Benchmark III: Use mathematical ideas, tools, and techniques to understand scientific knowledge. 9-12 Benchmark III: Use mathematical concepts, principles, and expressions to analyze data, develop models, understand patterns and relationships, evaluate findings, and draw conclusions. Strand II: Content of Science Standard II (Life Science): Understand the properties, structures, and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their environments. 5-8 Benchmark I: Explain the diverse structures and functions of living things and the complex relationships between living things and their environments. 9-12 Benchmark I: Understand how the survival of species depends on biodiversity and on complex interactions, including the cycling of matter and the flow of energy. Standard III (Earth and Space Science): Understand the structure of Earth, the solar system, and the universe, the interconnections among them, and the processes and interactions of Earth s systems. Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 44
MATERIALS: 5-8 Benchmark II: Describe the structure of Earth and its atmosphere and explain how energy, matter, and forces shape Earth s systems. 9-12 Benchmark II: Examine the scientific theories of the origin, structure, energy, and evolution of Earth and its atmosphere, and their interconnections. Hourly and Monthly data charts Colored pencils Graph paper BACKGROUND: In Caves the temperature and relative humidity generally becomes more constant as the distance from the entrance increases due to the layers of rock providing insulation and the low air circulation within the cave. The Cave Data was collected at Devils Hill approximately 875 ft from the entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. If a cave has water moving into it, the relative humidity can increase to saturation and above. Relative humidity is measured as a percentage of moisture in the air compared to how much moisture the air could actually hold; the higher the temperature the more moisture the air can hold. With humidity at the saturation point in moist caves, animals that have lived on land must deal with a situation that has been compared to living in freshwater. Now there is no need to conserve water, but there is a need to remove water without losing body salts. PROCEDURES: 1. The hourly and monthly data is provided to show the variation during a day in June as well as the variation over a year. Both of these graphs could be done or just one. 2. The hourly and monthly graphing procedures will be similar. 3. It would be useful if the temperatures and humidities could be graphed on the same sheet of graph paper. 4. Look at the high and low temperature and humidity readings to determine the range for the scales. 5. Graph the data for temperature and relative humidity for each month or hour. Use a different color of pencil for each temperature and humidity set. It might be useful to use similar colors for the temperatures and humidities; for example dark red of airport temperatures and pink for cave temperatures. Make a color key to identify which color represents each temperature and humidity set. CONCLUSIONS: Allow the students to draw conclusions from the graphs. They could include the relationship between temperature and humidity at the airport as well as comparing the airport to the cave conditions. How is the temperature related to the humidity on June 1, 2003? Is there enough Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 45
data to say this is always true? How could this be checked? How is the monthly average temperature compare to the monthly humidity? How does the average monthly precipitation affect the humidity at the airport and in the cave? These conclusions could be followed with a discussion about how cave organisms might adapt to the cave climate of constant temperatures and humidities as well as the very high humidities found in caves. Would they need to hibernate during the winter? Would they need a way to keep cool? Would they need to conserve water? References: Culver, David C. 1982. Cave Life, Evolution and Ecology. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University Press Mohr, Charles E. and Thomas L. Poulson. 1966. The Life of the Cave. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company National Research Council. 1996, National Science Education Standards. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press New Mexico Department of Education. 2003. New Mexico Science Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance Standards. http://164.64.166.11/cilt/standards/science/index.html Poulson,Thomas L and William B. White. 1969. The Cave Environment. Science. Volume 165, Number 3897 Monthly Temperature and Relative Humidity in Carlsbad Caverns, NM and Monthly Temperature, Relative Humidity and Precipitation Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 46
at Carlsbad Airport, NM October, 2002 through September, 2003 Carlsbad Caverns ( 1. ) Carlsbad Airport ( 2.) Month Temperature Humidity Temperature Humidity Precipitation o F % o F % In. Oct 55 104 57 67 2.50 Nov 52 104 48 53 0.23 Dec 51 103 43 60 0.50 Jan 51 104 38 67 0.00 Feb 51 104 46 67 1.18 Mar 51 104 58 39 0.22 Apr 53 104 67 23 0.00 May 54 104 72 35 1.73 Jun 55 104 79 44 0.14 Jul 55 104 83 43 0.78 Aug 55 104 82 45 0.29 Sep 55 104 74 51 0.53 1..From Carlsbad National Park's data table at Devils Hill in Carlsbad Caverns 2. Modified from: http://weather.nmsu.edu/cgishl/cns/rstat.pl?station=kcnm&type=hourly&smonth= 6&sday=01&syear=03&emonth=06&eday=02&eyear=03 3. From the National Weather Service: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/maf/html/climate.html Hourly Temperature and Relative Humidity At Carlsbad Airport and in Carlsbad Caverns, NM Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 47
On 01 June, 2003 In Carlsbad Caverns, NM ( 1.) At Carlsbad Airport, NM ( 2.) Time ( Hrs ) Temp ( o F ) Humidity % Temp ( o F ) Humidity % 00 54 104 75 54 01 54 104 73 53 02 54 104 70 64 03 54 104 70 64 04 54 104 66 73 05 54 104 66 73 06 54 104 68 73 07 54 104 72 60 08 54 104 77 54 09 54 104 81 48 10 54 104 82 45 11 54 104 90 36 12 54 104 91 30 13 54 104 97 22 14 54 104 97 22 15 54 104 99 20 16 54 104 99 21 17 54 104 100 18 18 54 104 99 21 19 54 104 84 29 20 54 104 79 39 21 54 104 79 39 22 54 104 75 44 23 54 104 73 50 1. From Carlsbad National Park's data table at Devils Hill in Carlsbad Caverns 2. Modified from: http://weather.nmsu.edu/cgi shl/cns/rstat.pl?station=kcnm&type=hourly&smonth=06&sday=01&syear=03 month=06&eday=02&eyear=03 Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 48
SAMPLES Temp o F & Hum % / Precp in Monthly Averages 100 Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 49
A I R P O R T T E M P = 90 C A V E T E M P = A I R P O R T H U M = 80 C A V E H U M = A I R P O R T P R E C = 70 60 50/3 40/2 30/1 20/ 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Months Hourly Readings 1 June, 2003 Temp o F / Hum % Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 50
90 80 70 60 50 40 A I R P O R T T E M P = C A V E T E M P = 30 A I R P O R T H U M = C A V E H U M = 20 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 51
STUDENT CAVE CLIMATE COMPARISON ACTIVITY CAVE CLIMATE COMPARISON ACTIVITY Student Name QUESTION: How do temperature and humidity compare? How does the cave environment compare to the surface environment? Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 52
MATERIALS: 1. Hourly and Monthly data charts 2. Colored pencils 3. Graph paper METHODS: 1. Graph the data for temperature and relative humidity for each month or hour. Use a different color of pencil for each temperature and humidity set. It might be useful to use similar colors for the temperatures and humidities; for example dark red of airport temperatures and pink for cave temperatures. Make a color key to identify which color represents each temperature and humidity set. CONCLUSIONS: Continue conclusions on the back if needed Monthly Temperature and Relative Humidity in Carlsbad Caverns, NM and Monthly Temperature, Relative Humidity and Precipitation at Carlsbad Airport, NM October, 2002 through September, 2003 Carlsbad Caverns ( 1. ) Carlsbad Airport ( 2.) Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 53
Month Temperature Humidity Temperature Humidity Precipitation o F % o F % In. Oct 55 104 57 67 67 Nov 52 104 48 53 53 Dec 51 103 43 60 60 Jan 51 104 38 67 67 Feb 51 104 46 67 67 Mar 51 104 58 39 39 Apr 53 104 67 23 23 May 54 104 72 35 35 Jun 55 104 79 44 44 Jul 55 104 83 43 43 Aug 55 104 82 45 45 Sep 55 104 74 51 51 1..From Carlsbad National Park's data table at Devils Hill in Carlsbad Caverns 3. Modified from: http://weather.nmsu.edu/cgishl/cns/rstat.pl?station=kcnm&type=hourly&smonth= 6&sday=01&syear=03&emonth=06&eday=02&eyear=03 4. From the Westrern Regional Climate Center: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgibin/climain.pl?nmcfaa Hourly Temperature and Relative Humidity At Carlsbad Airport and in Carlsbad Caverns, NM On 01 June, 2003 In Carlsbad Caverns, NM ( 1.) At Carlsbad Airport, NM ( 2.) Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 54
Time ( Hrs ) Temp ( o F ) Humidity % Temp ( o F ) Humidity % 00 54 104 75 54 01 54 104 73 53 02 54 104 70 64 03 54 104 70 64 04 54 104 66 73 05 54 104 66 73 06 54 104 68 73 07 54 104 72 60 08 54 104 77 54 09 54 104 81 48 10 54 104 82 45 11 54 104 90 36 12 54 104 91 30 13 54 104 97 22 14 54 104 97 22 15 54 104 99 20 16 54 104 99 21 17 54 104 100 18 18 54 104 99 21 19 54 104 84 29 20 54 104 79 39 21 54 104 79 39 22 54 104 75 44 23 54 104 73 50 4. 1. From Carlsbad National Park's data table at Devils Hill in Carlsbad Caverns Modified from: http://weather.nmsu.edu/cgi shl/cns/rstat.pl?station=kcnm&type=hourly&smonth=06&sday=01&syear=03 month=06&eday=02&eyear=03. Developed by Ray Bowers for the VCE a part of INRAM 55